U-12

CountryGermany
Ship ClassType II-class Submarine
BuilderFriedrich Krupp Germaniawerft
Yard Number546
Slip/Drydock NumberII
Ordered20 Jul 1934
Laid Down20 May 1935
Launched11 Sep 1935
Commissioned30 Sep 1935
Sunk8 Oct 1939
Displacement279 tons standard; 328 tons submerged
Length140 feet
Beam13 feet
Draft13 feet
MachineryTwo MWM RS 127 S 4-stroke 6-cyl diesel engines (690bhp), two Siemens-Schuckert PG VV 322/36 electric motors (450shp), two shafts, two propellers
Speed12 knots
Range3,800nm at 8 knots surfaced, 1,800nm at 12 knots surfaced, 35-43nm at 4 knots submerged
Crew27
Armament3x53.3cm bow torpedo tubes; 1x2cm C/30 anti-aircraft gun; 5x torpedoes, 12x TMA mines, or 18x TMB mines
Submerged Speed7 knots

Contributor:

ww2dbaseThe Type IIB coastal submarine U-12 was commissioned into service in Sep 1935. At the start of the European War, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Dietrich von der Ropp, she was a part of the Lohs Flotilla (renamed 3rd Submarine Flotilla in Mar 1941, long after U-12's loss). About a month into the war, on or about 8 Oct 1939, she struck a mine in the Strait of Dover Britain and France and sank, with the entire crew of 27 being lost. No radio communication was sent, thus the submarine was not officially noted by the German Navy as missing until 20 Oct 1939. Ropp's body was washed ashore on the French coast near Dunkerque in late Oct 1939.

ww2dbaseSources:
uboat.net
Wikipedia

Last Major Revision: Oct 2021

Submarine U-12 Interactive Map

U-12 Operational Timeline

20 Jul 1934 The order for the construction of U-12 was issued.
20 May 1935 The keel of U-12 was laid down at the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft shipyard in Kiel, Germany.
11 Sep 1935 U-12 was launched at the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft shipyard in Kiel, Germany.
30 Sep 1935 U-12 was commissioned into service under the command of Kapitänleutnant Werner von Schmidt.
1 Oct 1937 Kapitänleutnant Dietrich von der Ropp was made the commanding officer of U-12, replacing Hans Pauckstadt.
23 Sep 1939 U-12 departed from Wilhelmshaven, Germany on her first and only war patrol.
8 Oct 1939 Approximately on this date, U-12 strike a mine just off Kingsdown, England, United Kingdom near Dover and sank; the entire crew of 27 was lost.
20 Oct 1939 The German Navy officially noted U-12 as missing; she had struck a mine in the Strait of Dover on 8 Oct 1939.
29 Oct 1939 The body of Kapitänleutnant Dietrich von der Ropp, commanding officer of U-12, washed ashore near Dunkerque, France; the submarine was lost to a mine on 8 Oct 1939.




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